Masculinity In Breaking Bad

Following on author Peter Rollins' motto "If it isn't popular, it isn't culture," this collection of new essays considers Vince Gilligan's award-winning television series Breaking Bad as a landmark of Western culture--comparable to the works of Shakespeare and Dickens in their time--that merits scholarly attention from those who would understand early the 21st century zeitgeist. The essayists explore the series as a critique of American concepts of masculinity, with Walter White discussed as a father archetype--provider, protector, author of a legacy--and as a Machiavellian warrior on the capitalist battleground. Other topics include the mutual exclusivity of intellect and masculinity in American culture, and the dramatic irony as White's rationales for his criminal life are gradually revealed as a lie. In "round table" chapters, contributors discuss the show's reception, fans who root for "Team Walt," "Skyler-hating" and Breaking Bad as a feminist text.

Following on author Peter Rollins' motto "If it isn't popular, it isn't culture," this collection of new essays considers Vince Gilligan's award-winning television series Breaking Bad as a landmark of Western culture--comparable to the works of Shakespeare and Dickens in their time--that merits scholarly attention from those who would understand early the 21st century zeitgeist. The essayists explore the series as a critique of American concepts of masculinity, with Walter White discussed as a father archetype--provider, protector, author of a legacy--and as a Machiavellian warrior on the capitalist battleground. Other topics include the mutual exclusivity of intellect and masculinity in American culture, and the dramatic irony as White's rationales for his criminal life are gradually revealed as a lie. In "round table" chapters, contributors discuss the show's reception, fans who root for "Team Walt," "Skyler-hating" and Breaking Bad as a feminist text.

In my thesis I examine the crisis of masculinity and family in AMC's TV series Breaking Bad. In prior research, the protagonist Walter White has been analyzed as a man who wants to escape his responsibilities and the disappointments of his family life. However, in this thesis he will be shown to be simultaneously an advocate for the idealized family as well as for the idealized role of a man. The crisis of the masculinity therefore originates in the incoherency of the new idealized role of father and the idealized role of the man. Following the introduction and the research overview, the first chapter of this thesis is about the family in Breaking Bad. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the conditions of the Whites' family life and an examination of Walter White's dissatisfaction with these structures will be given. For this purpose the theories regarding the idealized family, and the change thereof, from Stephanie Coontz, Robert Hettlage, and Christine Zimmermann will be employed. The second chapter will examine Walter White's break-out from these conditions and how it impacts the family life of the Whites. To this effect, theories about masculinity and power by Heinrich Popitz and Christoph Kucklick will be used to describe and analyse Walter White's role as a man and why idealized masculinity and the family structures cannot be combined. For the analysis I inquire different scenes from the whole series. I conclude that the crisis of the masculinity in Breaking Bad shows a mutual relation between family and role of the man. On the one hand, the crisis is released because of the non-existence of the idealized family and it therefore destroys the idea of the idealized role of the male. On the other hand, the pursuit of the role of the male destroys the family structures as a whole. Does the insecurity of the man in a time of changing roles turn out to create an “immoral gender”?.

The 10th anniversary edition, now with a new preface by the author "A wonderfully smart, lively, and culturally astute survey." - The New York Times Book Review "Grand entertainment...fascinating for anyone curious about the perplexing miracles of how great television comes to be." - The Wall Street Journal "I love this book...It's the kind of thing I wish I'd been able to read in film school, back before such books existed." - Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad and co-creator of Better Call Saul In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the landscape of television began an unprecedented transformation. While the networks continued to chase the lowest common denominator, a wave of new shows on cable channels dramatically stretched television’s narrative inventiveness, emotional resonance, and creative ambition. Combining deep reportage with critical analysis and historical context, Brett Martin recounts the rise and inner workings of this artistic watershed - a golden age of TV that continues to transform America's cultural landscape. Difficult Men features extensive interviews with all the major players - including David Chase (The Sopranos), David Simon and Ed Burns (The Wire), David Milch (NYPD Blue, Deadwood), Alan Ball (Six Feet Under), and Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) - and reveals how television became a truly significant and influential part of our culture.

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2014 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: magna cum laude, Dresden Technical University, language: English, abstract: Both the "crisis of masculinity" and "quality TV" have been popular discourses in academia in recent years. Many of these contemporary quality TV series feature male anti-heroes at the center of their narratives. This dissertation argues that the constructions of masculinity in series such as "Breaking Bad" and "The Walking Dead" are informed by the Western hero. Furthermore, the dissertation links this recourse to an arguably outmoded model of masculinity to recent crisis tendencies in the USA, most notably the recent economic downturn and the aftermath of September 11 2001. Moreover, the return of the Western hero can be understood as a process of remasculinization in light of the crisis of masculinity.

Breaking Bad: Critical Essays on the Contexts, Politics, Style, and Reception of the Television Series, edited by David P. Pierson, explores the contexts, politics, and style of AMC's original series Breaking Bad. The book's first section locates and addresses the series from several contemporary social contexts, including neo-liberalism, its discourses and policies, the cultural obsession with the economy of time and its manipulation, and the epistemological principles and assumptions of Walter White's criminal alias Heisenberg. Section two investigates how the series characterizes and intersects with current cultural politics, such as male angst and the re-emergence of hegemonic masculinity, the complex portrayal of Latinos, and the depiction of physical and mental impairment and disability. The final section takes a close look at the series' distinctive visual, aural, and narrative stylistics. Under examination are Breaking Bad's unique visual style whereby image dominates sound, the distinct role and use of beginning teaser segments to disorient and enlighten audiences, the representation of geographic space and place, the position of narrative songs to complicate viewer identification, and the integral part that emotions play as a form of dramatic action in the series.

Latinx hypersexualized lovers or kingpin predators pulsate from our TVs, smartphones, and Hollywood movie screens. Tweets from the executive office brand Latinxs as bad-hombre hordes and marauding rapists and traffickers. A-list Anglo historical figures like Billy the Kid haunt us with their toxic masculinities. These are the themes creatively explored by the eighteen contributors in Decolonizing Latinx Masculinities. Together they explore how legacies of colonization and capitalist exploitation and oppression have created toxic forms of masculinity that continue to suffocate our existence as Latinxs. And while the authors seek to identify all cultural phenomena that collectively create reductive, destructive, and toxic constructions of masculinity that traffic in misogyny and homophobia, they also uncover the many spaces—such as Xicanx-Indígena languages, resistant food cultures, music performances, and queer Latinx rodeo practices—where Latinx communities can and do exhale healing masculinities. With unity of heart and mind, the creative and the scholarly, Decolonizing Latinx Masculinities opens wide its arms to all non-binary, decolonial masculinities today to grow a stronger, resilient, and more compassionate new generation of Latinxs tomorrow. Contributors Arturo J. Aldama Frederick Luis Aldama T. Jackie Cuevas Gabriel S. Estrada Wayne Freeman Jonathan D. Gomez Ellie D. Hernández Alberto Ledesma Jennie Luna Sergio A. Macías Laura Malaver Paloma Martinez-Cruz L. Pancho McFarland William Orchard Alejandra Benita Portillos John-Michael Rivera Francisco E. Robles Lisa Sánchez González Kristie Soares Nicholas Villanueva Jr.

BREAKING DOWN BREAKING BAD: AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF SHOW'S HISTORY, EVOLUTION, AND CULTURAL IMPACT “Breaking Down Breaking Bad: An In-Depth Analysis Of Show's History, Evolution, And Cultural Impact” is the ultimate resource for any fan of the critically acclaimed television series. This comprehensive guide offers a deep dive into every aspect of the show, from its groundbreaking storytelling to its iconic characters, cinematography, soundtrack, and cultural impact. This guide is essential for both new and longtime fans of the show. It provides an in-depth analysis of the show's themes and motifs, as well as behind-the-scenes information that sheds light on how the series came to be. “Breaking Down Breaking Bad: An In-Depth Analysis Of Show's History, Evolution, And Cultural Impact” is a must-have for any fan of the show, offering a unique perspective on one of the most groundbreaking television shows of our time. CONTENT (39 CHAPTERS) The Genius Of Vince Gilligan: Creator And Showrunner Of Breaking Bad A Closer Look At Walter White: Analyzing The Protagonist Of Breaking Bad Jesse Pinkman: The Heart And Soul Of Breaking Bad The Women Of Breaking Bad: Skyler, Marie, Lydia, And More The Villains Of Breaking Bad: Gus Fring, Tuco Salamanca, And Others The Cinematography Of Breaking Bad: A Visual Journey Through The Series Breaking Bad's Soundtrack: Music As A Storytelling Tool Breaking Bad And The Criminal Underworld: Realism Or Fiction? The Science Of Breaking Bad: Chemistry And Meth Production The Ethics Of Breaking Bad: Morality In A Criminal World Breaking Bad And Family Dynamics: Exploring The White And Pinkman Families Breaking Bad And Mental Health: Ptsd, Addiction, And More The Legacy Of Breaking Bad: How The Series Changed Television The Fans Of Breaking Bad: From Cult Hit To Mainstream Phenomenon The Breaking Bad Universe: Better Call Saul And El Camino Breaking Bad And Pop Culture: References And Influences In Media The Breaking Bad Experience: Visiting Albuquerque And The Show's Filming Locations The End Of Breaking Bad: A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Series Finale Albuquerque: The Perfect Backdrop For Breaking Bad The Evolution Of Walter White's Character Arc The Philosophy Of Breaking Bad: Existentialism And Nihilism The Art Of Foreshadowing: Hidden Clues And Easter Eggs In Breaking Bad The Psychology Of Gustavo Fring: Understanding The Series' Most Complex Villain Breaking Bad's Impact On The Crime Drama Genre The Importance Of Props And Costumes In Breaking Bad The Language Of Breaking Bad: Analyzing The Dialogue And Writing Breaking Bad's Relationship With The American Dream The Making Of Breaking Bad: The Crew And Production Team The Role Of Color And Symbolism In Breaking Bad's Cinematography The Use Of Flashbacks And Time Jumps In Breaking Bad The Evolution Of South Park's Themes And Storylines The Evolution Of Jesse Pinkman's Character Arc The Role Of Humor And Satire In Breaking Bad The Exploration Of Masculinity And Toxic Masculinity In Breaking Bad The Ethics Of The Drug Trade In Breaking Bad The Importance Of Food And Cooking In Breaking Bad Breaking Bad And The American Southwest: The Relationship Between Culture And Environment The Use Of Sound And Silence In Breaking Bad's Audio Design The Legacy Of Breaking Bad: Fan Theories, Memes, And Fan Culture

Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad is a central work in the recent renaissance in television-making. The visionary scope and complexity of the series demand rigorous critical analysis. This collection of new essays focuses on a variety of themes. Walter White is discussed as father, psychopath and scientist and as an example of masculinity. The essayists examine the series in terms of gender, neo-liberal politics and health care reform, as well as the more traditional aesthetic categories of narrative construction, experimentation, allusion and genre. With television the dominant artistic medium of early 21st century America, Breaking Bad should be viewed as a superbly designed work reflecting widespread cultural concerns.